Dino or Cyano?

[Artillerydrill]

Just wondering what you guys think. I’ve had both issues in the past. Mats up like cyano but is the color of dinos

175gallon FOwLER
Nitrate 20
Phos .06
Medium to heavy bioload

 

[mcarroll]

Dino's aren't too likely with nutrient levels you have.

How old is the tank?
Are you using RODI water that measures 0 TDS?
Are you using any anti-nutrient media or carbon dosing?

 

[mcarroll]

Oh....do you have a microscope? (Even a $10 toy scope will work.)

If not you can also run a couple of tests to narrow it down some.

Add a sample to a vial of peroxide (3%) and see if it bubbles.....YES=cyano.

Add a sample to a vial of saltwater and shake it to smithereens. Then leave the vial under some lights and see if the smitereens regroup in to any kind of snotty mass. YES=dino's

If you don't score on either of those, then diatoms are likely....tap water is the most likely source of silicates for them.

 

[Artillerydrill]

Aquarium is 7 months old, i only use RO/DI with zero tds. I don’t carbon dose or use carbon reactors or GFO. I have a 25 watt uv sterilizer, skimmer, and Cheato section. Nothing complicated.

My wife has a chem class this semester i can have her take it to the lab to test. Thank you for the advice I’ll do those tests that you mentioned mcarroll

 

[Artillerydrill]

Also my fuge has nasty clumps of GHA but none in the display...should i just leave the stuff or siphon it out?

 

[mcarroll]

If it's loose I think I'd siphon it out.

How is your chaeto growing? I'm guessing not a lot?

Let us know how the tests work out.....my guess for now is cyano....probably along with something else.

What are you using for flow, BTW, and what are the tanks dimensions?

 

[Artillerydrill]

If it's loose I think I'd siphon it out.

How is your chaeto growing? I'm guessing not a lot?

Let us know how the tests work out.....my guess for now is cyano....probably along with something else.

What are you using for flow, BTW, and what are the tanks dimensions?

At the moment all i have for flow is an mp40 QD and a M1 return pump. The cheato has doubled in size in approximately 2 months. (Baseball size to football size). I have never trimmed it though. There is also GHA growing on top of the cheato in some spots, i leave that too. The aquarium is 63 inches long and 30 inches wide. Lighting is 4x Hydra 26 HDs. I ordered an apex yesterday with two of their powerheads(4000 gph each i think..) flow shouldn’t be an issue after Saturday. I’ve had this problem for about 2-3 months and haven’t lost any trochus or turbos. My Mag foxface, yellow angel, and tang eat the slimy stuff from time to time also have a diamond goby that is living fine. I did lose one chocolate chip starfish during this time. Only lasted a week. Drip acclimated for an hour, maybe this wasn’t enough. I will go ahead with those tests when i get out of work. If it’s not dino(just a guess) I’ll go ahead and do a 30% or so wc and siphon the stuff out.